Heavy rain, street flooding possible in coastal areas

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ISSUED: The advisory will go into effect for Atlantic waters tonight, the National Weather Service said. Northeast winds of up to 25 knots were forecast, and seas in the Atlantic will increase up to 10 feet on Sunday. The advisory runs through 7 p.m. Sunday. (Credit: NWS-Miami)

UPDATE: Light rain was falling over coastal areas of Palm Beach County, with 0.05 of an inch at PBIA between 1-4 p.m. The heaviest amounts were in Miami-Dade County. Coconut Grove was reporting a 24-hour total of 4.49 inches through 4:30 p.m. EST. National Weather Service forecasters said heavy rain remained possible through Sunday, but added that the potential was highest in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

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ORIGINAL POST: Weekend rain chances were bumped up for Palm Beach and coastal South Florida today by National Weather Service forecasters as the cold front that slid through the area Friday drifted very slowly to the south.

Heavy rain was lurking just off-shore and rain cells that have made to the coast have been slow moving, dumping up to 2 inches of rain overnight in some spots, forecasters said.

Since rain associated with the front began rolling through at around 5 p.m. Friday, Palm Beach International Airport picked up 0.91 of an inch of rain through 8 a.m. today.

Unofficially, Coconut Grove in Miami-Dade County reported 2.81 inches; two locations in eastern Collier County measured in excess of 3.50 inches; and an observer on the northwest shore of Lake Okeechobee checked in with 1.27 inches.

A high rip current risk advisory was issued for Palm Beach by the NWS from 1 p.m. Saturday through Monday evening. Also, forecasters said heavy downpours are possible today along the coast with rainfall amounts of up to an inch possible.

Easterly winds were expected to begin picking up after mid-day and a small craft advisory could be issued.

After a cooler weekend, above-normal temperatures may return by mid-week, forecasters said. A stronger cold front may be in the cards for next weekend.

RECORD WATCH: Miami’s high of 88 on Friday beat the record of 87 set in 1992. The low in Naples Friday was 74, beating the previous warm minimum mark of 73 set in 1997.

The high at PBIA was 87, a degree shy of the record high of 88 set in 1992. It was also 88 unofficially in Palm Beach.